Did you know….that 12 February 2002 is the beginning of the 
Chinese Year of the Horse?

From the time horses were tamed in northeastern China around 5,000 years ago, they have played an important role in Chinese society.

For centuries China’s very survival depended on its horses. One of the most important accomplishments of China’s first dynasty the Shang dynasty—which ruled the nation from about 1600-1100 B.C.—was the development of the horse-drawn war chariot. One sign as to how much horses and the chariots they powered were valued is that both were buried alongside their owners. And the Chinese went on to invent one of the first effective harnessing systems, the stirrup, and the horse collar.

Horses played an important role in leisure and recreational activities too. Dressage horses—horses that perform a series of smooth, graceful movements in response to barely noticeable signals given by riders—delighted emperors in court ceremonies as far back as 206 B.C. And during the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), both the game of polo and hunting on horseback became popular.

The horse also plays an important role in the mythology of China. It is closely associated with the dragon. Both were said to be able to fly and to carry their riders to the "home of the immortals." The ability to fly has been associated with survival throughout all of Chinese history. Now people wish each other well during Chinese New Year and on birthdays by saying, "May your spirit be like the dragon and the horse!" or "Success will come with the arrival of the horse!"

Acknowledgement to: www.nationalgeographic.com/kids

For more information and links about Chinese New Year visit: www.chinapage.com/newyear.html